For a stronger and better response to the needs of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) abroad, Malacañang build a new high level team that will face the political conflict and natural disaster in the countries where the OFW’s are working.
President Benigno Aquino III and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa signed the Executive Order No. 34 last April 6, which established the Overseas Preparedness and Response Team under the office of the President. The new Team have replaced the Middle East Preparedness team that was formed in 2002 to deal with the evacuation of thousands of Filipino workers in the Middle East during Iraq crisis.
The Overseas Preparedness and Response Team are composed of the executive secretary as chairperson and the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers concern. Also in the team are the different agencies of the government including the secretaries of the Departments of Foreign Affair, Labor and Employment, National Defense Justice, the interior and Local Government, and Budget and Management. This is according to the mandate under the Executive Order No. 34.
Vice President Jejomar Binay is (–foul word(s) removed–)igned to be the presidential adviser on migrant workers.
The primary purpose of the crisis team is to cater the needs of the OFW’s and respond appropriately to the crisis situations affecting Filipinos abroad by drawing up strategies and programs that help the OFW’s. It shall develop and adopt interactive operating arrangements among agencies to effect maximum coordination.
Such programs and policies will be supported by any department or agency of the government or private sector groups; they will also coordinate with the bilateral and multilateral partners in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and policies.
According to Ochoa the new team will help OFW’s affected by different crisis like Natural disaster, civil unrest, armed conflicts happening abroad.
He also added that such situations happening right now in all parts of the world made the government decide to establish a measure and system that would ensure the safety and welfare of our countrymen abroad.
